New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-06-17

i
1 circulation, but not credence, that the Pres
ident had promised to grant the application.
1 After his return from the AdiI ondacks the
| gossip of the capital renewed the rumor, and
| more definite expression was given to the
Presidents gracious intention. But though
this report was said to have an ofcial basis.
| 1t found few believers and attracted little
attention. and it was not until Tuesday Of this
week that final authority was given to the an
nonncement by the PRONUNCIATION of the fol
| lowing circular letter addressed to the Govern
ors of Southern States, by the Adjutant- General
of the Army, this particular letter being sent to
Governor Lee, of Virginia.
Tho President of the United States having ap-
proved the recommendation that all the Tags IN the
custody OF tue war Department be returned 70 mo
regiments which bore them We're organlLEs Tor s1ch
final ts t1eY seSca Of Var to am mako
you Gin the name OF the Var PEI artment ,h tsr ig
volunteer organizations of the State of Virginia IN
dschargng this pleasant duty beg yoq poa ,So d 10,
tenton in returning each nag to sye Its history , as
far as 1t Is possible to 40 so stalins 'ho ciicuHi
STANCES Of Its capture and recovery
1t appears that employees of the War Dc
partment have been engaged for some time
in sorting and arranging these flags, and pre-
pairing records of the circumstances under
which they were severaly captured; and it
has been intimatod that the Adjutant-Gencial
of North Carolina was requested to make
specific application in order that convenient
occasion might not be wanting for carrying
the Presidents determination into effect.
Whether this be fact or not Is immatcrlal'
since in either case all possible considerations
of law, of honor, Of sentiment and Of common
sense are equally involved.
What is it that the President OF the
United States did He authorized the Sec
rotary Of War to restore flags lately captured
from organizations i'll rebellion against the
Nation Restore them to whomf Not to
those organizations, for they no longer exist.
They were never conceded by the National
Government to have q de jure existence. and
their dc facto existence terminated more than
twenty years ago II is, then, to States now
q part of the Nation in fact as well Us in law
acknowledging allegiance to its authority and
deriving security from its flag that these tat
tered memorials of a cause which went down
forever in blood were to be presented. Their
possession by the United States has had a very
definite mcaning-a meaning both mournful and
splendid 1t has signifed that rebellion was
once waged against a free and bcncficcnt gov
crnment, but it has also signlfcd that this re-
bellion was crushed that q government OF the
,.oople was superior TO the tremendous strain
Of civil war, was able to protect its members
in the en- jOyment of liberty, to provide for their
defence and their prosperity. In the posses
sion of those who represent as nearly as may be
the rebels of twenty-five years ago. these sym
bols of treason would be placed upon level
with the flag Of the Union under which treason
was subdued. The Adjutant General has not had
to wait long for the verdict of loyal men uIon
this monstrous affront to those who fought for
tho Union and to the memory of those who
died From every quarter has already come
the voice of grief and anger, and the protest
has only just begun TO gather volume, So
great indeed has been the storm Of Indignation
aroused that the President has fastened TO
rcscind his order, and to confess that his act
was illegal and without Justification
This point is so clear that it is surprising
tho President and his advisers could have
committed so grave blunder. The Revised
Statutes of the United States say, Section
2I7, "The Secretary Of War shall
have the custody and charge Of all the books
records. papers, furniture, fixtures and other
property appcrtaining to the Department. and
Section 21S, 3Thc Secretary Of War shall
| from time to time cause TO be collected and
| transmitted to him, at the scat of government
all such flags, standards and colors as are taken
| by the Army from the enemies of the United
| States We look in vain for any statute con
ferring upon the Secretary of War, uIOn the
President or upon any other person, authority
TO dispose of such trophies in any way what
socver. They are the property of the Gov
eminent as constituted by the people, held in
| trust for those to whose loyal devotion
| they are eloquent witnesses. Who authorized
| the President to distribute public property
through the Secretary of War and the Adjutant
! GeneralY Tho principle has been uniformly
recognized and maintained that the head Of an
executive department cannot dispose Of the
property appertainng thereto without express
permission of Congress. 1t required an act Of
| Congress to enable the Secretary OF War to
collect for preservation in his Department flags
captured from tho enemy, and II will
require something more than the Presidents
inclination to dispcrse them at the pleasure
Of his subordinate.
But another consideration besides sentiment
and law was involved is this extraordinary per
| Torrance This is supposed TO be an era OF
reconciliation. Appeals to fraternal feeling
are the order of the day, and the desire to be
in reality the President Of a reunited people
has been thought TO he prevailing influence
| in Mr.. Clevelands official life. What shall
! be said then, of an action which plainly de
| clared that the war shall not be forgotten
that the wounds shall not be healed, that
new generation shall not consign the past to
oblivion, and which babe cveiy Southern veteran
revive his bitterest memories by gazing on the
banner under which he suffered and was van
Quishcd2 The soldiers of the Union would fan
be kinder than this to their brave foes. They
| feel no resentment against the mon whom they